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And Another Thing... (novel)
And Another Thing... (novel)
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And Another Thing... is the sixth and final installment of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy of six books". The book, written by Eoin Colfer, was published on the thirtieth anniversary of the first book, 12 October 2009, in hardback. It was published by Penguin Books in the UK and by Hyperion Books in the US. Colfer was commissioned to write the book by Adams' widow Jane Belson.[1]

Key Information

Background

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After writing five Hitchhiker books, Adams had felt the need to continue the story: "I suspect at some point in the future I will write a sixth Hitchhiker book...",[2] and "People have said, quite rightly, that Mostly Harmless is a very bleak book. I would love to finish Hitchhiker on a slightly more upbeat note, so five seems to be a wrong kind of number; six is a better kind of number."[3][4]

In referring to the Dirk Gently book he was then working on, Adams said, "A lot of the stuff which was originally in The Salmon of Doubt really wasn't working." Adams had planned on "salvaging some of the ideas that I couldn't make work in a Dirk Gently framework and putting them in a Hitchhiker framework... and for old time's sake I may call it The Salmon of Doubt."[5][6] However, Adams died in 2001 without having written the sixth book.

Unlike the previous Hitchhiker's sequels, the title is not a quotation from the first novel, but taken from the third chapter of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish,[7] where it appears in the following passage:

The storm had now definitely abated, and what thunder there was now grumbled over more distant hills, like a man saying 'And another thing...' twenty minutes after admitting he's lost the argument.

Plot summary

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And Another Thing... starts where Mostly Harmless ends, with Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Trillian, and Arthur and Trillian's daughter Random standing inside Club Beta, while the Earth is about to be destroyed by the Vogons.

Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, assigned to destroy all humans, hears rumours of a colony of Earthmen, and he sets off in the warship Business End to destroy them, while Arthur attempts to get Wowbagger to stop the Vogons.

On the Earth colony Nano, the stereotypical Irish leader Hillman Hunter is seeking applicants to be the planet's god, who would keep Hillman in charge due to divine providence. Meanwhile, Prostetnic Jeltz's son, Constant Mown, is having rather "un-Vogonly" thoughts, including an enjoyment of poetry and sympathy for humans. Wowbagger and Random start arguing, and Wowbagger drugs and imprisons Random. Afterwards, Trillian and Wowbagger fight, but they share a kiss at the end of the argument. Random is less than impressed with her mother's and Wowbagger's actions, and complains about it to Ford. Random steals Ford's company credit card.

Back on Asgard, Zaphod has managed to gain access to Valhalla and finds his old acquaintance, Thor. After some negotiations, Thor agrees to help Zaphod by becoming Nano's god and killing Wowbagger.

Things on Nano are not going as planned, and Hillman is struggling to find his god and keep order among his own populace, as well as trying to control the Magratheans who built the planet. Hillman recalls creating a cult for the rich, which preached of a coming apocalypse, only for the Grebulons to create such an apocalypse. Having received an offer from Zaphod, Hillman and his followers relocated to their "haven", the planet Nano. However, many of the staff abandoned their rich employers and several rival religious groups also settled on the planet, the most prominent of these being the cheese-worshiping Tyromancers, led by Aseed. The Tyromancers and the Nanites enter into a war, and during one of the war's battles, the Heart of Gold and Thor suddenly arrive.

Wowbagger's ship lands on Nano and is met by the Tyromancers. Zaphod negotiates for Thor to be Nano's god and reveals that Aseed and Hillman are actually the same being from parallel universes, both of whom made deals with Zaphod. It is revealed that this is what brought him to Earth, saving Arthur and the rest. With Wowbagger representing the Tyromancers for show and Thor representing the Nanites, the two meet in battle.

The battle begins, but Thor is unable to win because Wowbagger does not die, even when hit with the hammer Mjöllnir. A package for Random arrives through interstellar freight, containing the rubber bands involved in Wowbagger's becoming immortal, which Random believes may be able to hurt him. Using Mjöllnir, enhanced with the rubber bands, Thor sends Wowbagger into the air.

The Vogons approach with the intent of destroying Nano. Thor is able to deflect the Vogon missiles, but is seemingly killed by an experimental weapon called QUEST. Constant Mown disables the Vogon gunner, and uses the argument that their orders are to kill Earthlings and not Nanites (legally two distinct groups, with the latter being taxpaying citizens). Prostetnic Jeltz agrees to his argument, and is proud of his son's ability to follow law and bureaucracy. Zaphod and Hillman tell the people that Thor is Nano's martyr and that all commands he will issue shall henceforth come from Hillman, only for Hillman to be sliced in two by a piece of bomb debris.

Luckily, Hillman's death is short, as the Heart of Gold medical bay restores him to full health, with only one minor change – he now has hooves rather than feet. Even though he now has control over the populace, he grows displeased upon finding himself swamped with civic paperwork. Zaphod sets off with Left Brain to work on his re-election campaign, and Ford has decided to stay behind and sample the best Nano has to offer, so he can write material for the Guide. Up in space, a very much alive Thor is pleased to learn of his rise back to fame, and the success of his "martyrdom" trick. Arthur finds the beach from his construct. To his displeasure, he finds that Vogons are going to destroy it.

Announcement

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The announcement of And Another Thing… was made on 16 September 2008. Although Colfer spoke of "semi-outrage" at the initial idea of another author contributing to the series, he came to regard the book as "a wonderful opportunity to work with characters I have loved since childhood and give them something of my own voice while holding on to the spirit of Douglas Adams".[1] Adams' widow, Jane Belson, said that she "could not think of a better person to transport Arthur, Zaphod and Marvin to pastures new" and gave the project her full support.[1]

When the announcement was made on the BBC Radio 4's news show The Today Programme, a special sketch starring Simon Jones as Arthur Dent (whom he played in the radio and television series) was broadcast. In it, Arthur was angry at the news that he had been "brought back from the dead".[8]

A reception was held at the Penguin offices in London on 9 March 2009 to launch the cover of the book and announce the related marketing activity which included the BBC, with their CDs of the radio series, and Pan with their reissues of the first five books of the series.[9] As part of the book's promotion, a website collected Twitter-style messages from visitors, to be "transmitted into deep space" on the day of the book's launch.[10]

Waterstones' science-fiction buyer Michael Rowley described the match of Colfer and Hitchhiker's as "an inspired combination", although some Hitchhiker's fans expressed regret that "a complete unique series can't remain untouched" and hoped Colfer would not "completely ruin the books".[11]

Radio adaptation

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And Another Thing... was adapted and abridged for BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime, in ten parts, broadcast from 12–23 October 2009. It was abridged by Penny Leicester, read by Stephen Mangan, with Peter Serafinowicz as the voice of The Guide, and produced by Heather Larmour.[12][13] The parts are about half the size of a regular "fit" of the more formal radio adaptations of the other books, totalling about five fits in comparison, but each part has its own short title.[14]

A full cast radio adaptation under the title The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Hexagonal Phase and adapted from And Another Thing... , with unpublished Hitchhiker material by Douglas Adams, was announced in October 2017 by the BBC as the sixth series of Hitchhiker's Guide. The first episode of the series was broadcast on 8 March 2018 - the 40th anniversary of the original first episode in 1978 - and the complete series was released commercially both on CD and via audio download by Audible.com on 19 April 2018.[15]

Audio book

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The audio book version is read by Simon Jones, who played Arthur Dent in the radio and television series as well as a short made by BBC Radio 4 to celebrate the original announcement of the book.[8] The recording is ten hours and twenty one minutes in length and is the first Hitchhikers audio book starring Jones. The others were read by Stephen Moore (known for playing Marvin in the radio series and television series, and did recordings for all books except Mostly Harmless), Douglas Adams, Martin Freeman (who had played Arthur in the 2005 film)[16] and Stephen Fry (known for being the voice of The Guide in the 2005 film, the voice of Murray Bost Henson in The Quandary Phase of the radio series, and a close friend of Adams).

Reception

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The book received mixed reviews from both readers and critics. Reviewing the book in The Guardian, Mark Lawson described Colfer's writing as "the best post-mortem impersonation I have ever read" and considered the book "a perfectly calculated adaptation".[17] Curtis Silver of Wired also praised the book as a continuation of Adams' story that only suffered slightly from some jokes being too clichéd.[18] Other positive reviews came from The Times, where Lisa Tuttle described it as "a fine job", and from Euan Ferguson of The Observer, who wrote that "Colfer has pulled off the near-impossible."[19]

Other reviews were more negative. Charlie Jane Anders, having read the first half of the book, described it as "more of the same" but without leaving a unique impression of its own, with the humour falling "incredibly flat".[20] Private Eye summed it up as a "mostly humourless ... lame re-animation".[21]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Development

Background

Douglas Adams, the creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, died on 11 May 2001 at the age of 49 from a heart attack while exercising in California. At the time of his death, the series consisted of five novels, originally conceived as a "trilogy in five parts": The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979), The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980), Life, the Universe and Everything (1982), So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984), and Mostly Harmless (1992). Following Adams's death, his widow Jane Belson, literary agent , and representatives of the Douglas Adams estate engaged in discussions about the possibility of extending the series. Victor, who managed the estate's literary affairs, proposed the idea of a sixth installment to publisher Penguin, viewing it as an opportunity to revive interest in Adams's work for a new generation of readers. Belson supported the initiative, emphasizing the desire to honor her husband's legacy while transporting the core characters into fresh adventures. In September 2008, Irish author Eoin Colfer was selected to write the continuation, titled And Another Thing.... Colfer, best known for his Artemis Fowl young adult fantasy series, had approached the estate with the concept, expressing deep admiration for Adams's satirical humor and cosmic absurdity. Belson personally endorsed Colfer, stating that he shared Adams's sense of humor and that she believed Adams would have approved of the choice. The decision to authorize the novel raised legal considerations regarding the estate's rights over the series, as well as ethical questions about extending a deceased author's work without their direct involvement. While the estate held full control, the announcement sparked fan backlash, including petitions opposing the project on grounds of preserving Adams's original vision. Despite this, Belson and Victor proceeded, framing the book as a respectful rather than a replacement.

Announcement and writing process

The continuation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series with a sixth was publicly announced on , 2008, with Irish author commissioned to write it. The project had been approved by Adams' widow, Jane Belson, who selected Colfer for his imaginative storytelling in the series and his admiration for Adams' work. Colfer expressed initial hesitation but ultimately viewed the opportunity as "a gift from the gods," emphasizing his intent to honor the original without impersonating Adams. Colfer's writing process spanned roughly a year, beginning shortly after the announcement and culminating in the book's completion for its October 2009 release. He dedicated 6 to 8 months to the intensive drafting phase, deliberately setting aside his usual structured approach to embrace the chaotic, improvisational spirit of Adams' narratives. During this time, Colfer focused on blending homage to Adams' signature absurd humor and philosophical undertones—such as the universe's inherent improbability—with fresh elements, including new characters and plot threads that extended the story from . He approached the task as "authorized ," prioritizing fun and gentle references to the originals over strict adherence to Adams' voice. One of the primary challenges Colfer faced was capturing Adams' tone of cosmic cleverness and sustained lunacy without direct imitation, which he described as the hardest aspect of working within the established universe. Colfer avoided using any of Adams' unpublished notes or outlines, opting instead to create an original extension that stood on its own while nodding to the series' themes of existential absurdity. This method allowed him to introduce innovative ideas, like satirical takes on immortality and celebrity, while maintaining the philosophical depth that defined Adams' contributions.

Publication

Release details

And Another Thing... was released worldwide on October 12, 2009, marking the thirtieth anniversary of the original The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novel. In the and , it was published by Michael Joseph, an imprint of . The edition was published by Hyperion Books, a division of Publishing. The marketing strategy positioned the novel as the official sixth installment in Douglas Adams' series, with full endorsement from the author's estate, which had approached Colfer about the project. Promotional efforts included a launch reception at Penguin's offices on March 9, 2009, to unveil the cover and related campaigns. Author tour events featured bookshop appearances for signings and readings across the and . Publishers anticipated strong global interest, with international translations planned immediately, including German (Und übrigens noch was..., 2009) and French (Encore une chose..., 2010) editions. Initial print runs were substantial to meet expected demand, though specific figures were not publicly detailed at launch.

Formats and editions

The first edition of And Another Thing... was released in by Michael Joseph in the on 12 2009, with 978-0-7181-5514-8 and 368 pages. In the United States, Hyperion published the edition simultaneously on 13 2009, featuring 978-1-4013-2358-5 and 288 pages. Subsequent paperback editions followed in 2010. The UK paperback, published by Michael Joseph (an imprint of Penguin), carried ISBN 978-0-1410-4213-8. The US paperback from Hyperion bore ISBN 978-1-4013-1030-1 and maintained the 288-page length of the hardcover. Digital formats became available shortly after the initial release, with the e-book edition launched in 2009 for platforms including Kindle, under ASIN B002WGC8PU from Hyperion. A special limited edition was produced by Michael Joseph in the UK, consisting of 1,000 numbered and signed copies by , presented in pictorial boards with a towel-patterned cover and housed in a deluxe light-up box. The has been translated into multiple languages, with international editions featuring distinct to reflect local markets. The German edition, titled Und übrigens noch was..., was published by Heyne in 2009 with 978-3-453-26640-7 and 416 pages. The French edition, Encore une chose..., appeared from Gallimard in 2010 under 978-2-07-039956-7, spanning 432 pages in its pocket book format.

Content

Plot summary

And Another Thing... continues the story from Douglas Adams's , where the destruction of all Earths by the Vogons leaves survivors including , , Trillian, and their daughter Random in dire straits on the planet Krikkit. The narrative picks up with these core characters from the original series being mysteriously reunited and rescued from vaporization, setting off a new chain of improbable events across multiple universes. The novel spans 35 chapters, weaving together space adventures filled with humorous mishaps and existential musings as the protagonists navigate chaos aboard ships like the Heart of Gold and Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged's dark matter vessel. New settings expand the universe, including the planet Nanobots (also referred to as Nano), where wealthy inhabitants seek a divine figure to lead them, overseen by the overly Irish leader Hillman Hunter, an egotistical philanthropist. Meanwhile, returns with his characteristic schemes, this time entangled with the upgraded Mark II, a tool wielded by the to control the . The central conflict revolves around a quest to establish a new Earth and counter these galactic threats, incorporating elements like recruiting Thor from and dealing with Vogon bureaucracy, all while blending absurd comedy with reflections on fate and . The storylines of the scattered characters gradually converge through a series of escalating absurdities, culminating in a resolution that ties back to the series' themes of improbability and survival without fully resolving every existential quandary. Throughout, the novel maintains the franchise's signature mix of and , introducing fresh twists like virtual realities and alternative dimensions to propel the plot forward.

Characters and themes

In And Another Thing..., revives key figures from ' series, updating their arcs in the wake of the events in . remains the quintessential bewildered everyman, passively navigating a newly recreated resembling while grappling with its impending threats and pining for lost connections like Fenchurch, underscoring his enduring displacement in the universe. retains his resourceful, opportunistic nature, rejoining the chaos aboard the Heart of Gold and aiding in convoluted schemes against cosmic odds. drives much of the narrative with his signature chaotic lunacy, botching rescues and leading the group through improbable escapades that amplify his two-headed unpredictability. Colfer introduces fresh dynamics through expanded and new characters, enriching the ensemble. Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged, previously a minor immortal insulter from , takes a more central role by reluctantly rescuing the protagonists from destruction and delivering his trademark barbs, highlighting the burdens of eternal life. Hillman Hunter emerges as a primary , portrayed as an egotistical Irish philanthropist and reality TV host who oversees the planet , satirizing self-aggrandizing figures through his manipulative quest to select a new . Random Dent, Arthur's troubled daughter, receives further development as she integrates into the group's survival efforts post-rescue, exploring her strained familial ties and search for identity amid interstellar turmoil. The novel perpetuates Adams' core themes of absurdity in and , evident in the random cosmic structures, parallel universe mishaps, and Guide entries on bizarre alien species like the Tubular Zingatularians, which mock the futility of universal order. Colfer layers in contemporary critiques, including via Hunter's fame-obsessed machinations and immortality's tedium through Wowbagger's weary eternity, while touching on existence's multiplicity via multiple versions of facing alternate deaths. Environmental undertones appear in the satirical portrayal of Earth's recreations and planetary vulnerabilities, reflecting modern concerns like and digital overreach. Colfer's approach infuses the story with heightened —seen in Zaphod's bungled antics and Wowbagger's insults—and emotional heart, particularly in Arthur's poignant longings, diverging from Adams' drier, more looping wit toward a crisper, more accessible prose style.

Adaptations

Radio adaptation

The dramatization of And Another Thing... formed the sixth series of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio adaptations, known as the Hexagonal Phase. Adapted, directed, and produced by , the series aired in six episodes from 8 March to 12 April 2018, marking the 40th anniversary of the original 1978 broadcast. Each episode lasted approximately 30 minutes and drew from Eoin Colfer's novel as its primary source material while integrating unpublished scripts by discovered in the Cambridge University archives. The production reunited much of the original cast, with Simon Jones reprising his role as , as , and as . Following the death of in 2015, assumed the role of Trillian, a character she had previously voiced in other capacities within the series. John Lloyd narrated as the voice of the Book, replacing . Notable new additions included Ed Byrne as the charismatic con artist Hillman Hunter, Samantha Béart as Fenchurch, as the Guide's Consultant, in multiple roles, and a guest appearance by Professor voicing the Guide Mk II. returned as , despite the character's limited presence in the novel, incorporating material from two unused Adams scripts. Maggs' script condensed several subplots from the novel to suit the episodic radio format, shifting greater focus to Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect while reducing Zaphod's centrality to heighten dramatic tension and pacing. The adaptation introduced radio-specific humor through amplified sound design, such as layered effects for the Infinite Improbability Drive sequences and stylized audio cues for the Hitchhiker's Guide entries, evoking the series' signature blend of narration and chaos. Colfer reviewed and approved the scripts, which also wove in archival Adams content exclusive to the broadcast and extended CD editions. The recording process, spanning seven years due to scheduling and health challenges, fostered a lively studio atmosphere that yielded numerous outtakes from the cast's enthusiasm.

Audiobook production

The audiobook version of And Another Thing... was narrated by Simon Jones, who originated the role of in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Released simultaneously with the print edition on October 12, 2009, it was published by Penguin Audio in the and in the United States. The unabridged recording runs approximately 10 hours and 22 minutes and was made available in both (nine discs) and digital download formats. Production took place under professional audio standards typical for major publishers, with Jones delivering a solo narration that captures the novel's humor through distinct vocal characterizations. Jones's performance highlights the book's comedic elements, employing varied accents and inflections to portray humans, aliens, machines, , and even talking cows, thereby enhancing the satirical tone without relying on a full . His familiarity with the character's voice from the original radio series adds authenticity, briefly referencing the established audio legacy in a single seamless narration style. Some editions include bonus material, such as a short interview with author discussing his approach to continuing Adams's series.

Reception

Critical response

The critical response to And Another Thing... was generally favorable, with reviewers praising Eoin Colfer's ability to capture the spirit and humor of ' original series while extending the narrative in a respectful manner. , in a review for , described Colfer's effort as "the best post-mortem impersonation I have ever read," highlighting its success in emulating Adams' style through crisp prose and clever use of elements like alternative universes and the Infinite Improbability Drive to revive key characters. Similarly, the Independent on Sunday commended the novel as "chock-full of fanciful, inventive one-liners and asides, brimming with a burning sense of the ridiculousness of life," emphasizing its entertainment value as a continuation. Other critics noted Colfer's fidelity to the established universe, including familiar tropes such as Vogons and drunken gods, which provided a satisfying rescue from the bleak ending of Adams' . In , reviewer Zack Handlen appreciated the plot's alignment with the series' absurdity, calling it "perfectly in keeping with the established universe" and a "respectful" nod to Adams' work that leaves readers smiling. Wired echoed this, describing the book as "thoroughly entertaining and sharply written," with Colfer effectively blending his own rapid-fire humor with Adams' whimsical tone through subtle puns and improbable scenarios. Strange Horizons further lauded the multi-layered subplots involving characters like Thor and new additions such as Wowbagger the Infinite, stating that Colfer "has pulled off the near-impossible" by matching Adams' rhythm and cadences in a faithful . However, some reviews offered mixed assessments, pointing to areas where Colfer's approach fell short of Adams' philosophical depth and originality. Handlen in The A.V. Club critiqued the over-reliance on , with excessive callbacks to earlier characters and gags feeling distracting and less innovative than Adams' punchline-driven , ultimately deeming it "less funny" in places. Strange Horizons highlighted inconsistencies, such as Arthur Dent's newfound emotional depth clashing with his original persona, and noted that some Guide entries and digressions seemed forced or unnecessary compared to Adams' more purposeful meanderings. Wired also observed occasional clichéd jokes, like recurring gags about self-aware cows, and filler-like Guide sections that occasionally slowed the pace. Colfer himself reflected on the challenges of the project in a BBC interview, acknowledging the pressure of continuing Adams' legacy while infusing his own voice: "I realised that this is a wonderful opportunity to work with characters I have loved since childhood and give them something of my own voice while holding onto the spirit of Douglas Adams and not laying a single finger on his five books." This self-aware approach contributed to the novel's reception as an accessible entry point for new readers, though some critics felt it prioritized fun over deeper existential themes present in Adams' work. On aggregate reader platforms, the book garnered a solid but not exceptional response, averaging 3.6 out of 5 stars from over 33,000 ratings on , reflecting broad appreciation for its humor amid debates over its authenticity to the series. Early coverage trended toward favorable assessments of its lighthearted revival of the absurdity, positioning it as a worthy, if imperfect, addition to the trilogy.

Commercial performance and legacy

Upon its release in October 2009, And Another Thing... achieved strong commercial performance, debuting on major bestseller lists in both the and the . In the , it entered the bestseller list at number 3 in its first week, selling over 100,000 copies during that period. In the , the novel debuted at number 8 on the bestseller list for fiction. By 2010, global sales had exceeded 500,000 copies, contributing to renewed commercial interest in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. The novel's success revived interest in Douglas Adams' original works, prompting publishers to issue reprints and new editions of the earlier books in the franchise during the late 2000s and 2010s. This resurgence influenced fan communities, sparking discussions on author succession in long-running literary franchises and inspiring various fan fiction and derivative works that extended the Hitchhiker's universe. In the years following its publication, And Another Thing... marked key post-2009 developments for the series, including a 15th-anniversary edition released in 2024 featuring a new foreword by Colfer reflecting on the book's creation and its place in Adams' legacy. While no major new adaptations emerged between 2018 and 2025, the novel's enduring popularity has solidified its status within the sci-fi comedy canon, maintaining the franchise's appeal to new generations of readers. The book's cultural footprint includes its role in preserving and expanding Adams' universe, with references in media such as Colfer's own contributions to the Doctor Who series, which echo the whimsical tone of Hitchhiker's while highlighting themes of improbable adventures across the cosmos. This has helped sustain the novel's influence on discussions of collaborative storytelling in science fiction.

References

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